Re discovering Hong Kong
Trip Start
Jul 17, 2011
1
38
Trip End
Aug 29, 2011
Hong Kong, China
Tuesday, August 23, 2011
Monday 22.8
It was good to arrive in HK, at least until we saw the lines at immigration. 10 deep sheep lines and only 3 officers serving them. We had got used to the high efficiency in Singapore. Took us more than 1/2 hour to reach the front. At least we didn't have to wait long for our luggage.
Graeme was waiting for us when we got thru. He hasn't got his car yet, should get it this week, so get it this week. He had taxied to the airport, which was very sweet of him and I said we could have got ourselves to his place. I was wrong we would not have been able to. He pretty well had to show the driver where to go, that despite the fact that there were different taxi lines for different areas of Hong Kong.
It was a 40 - 60 minutes drive to their place in Sai Kung, north east of the city. They have a lovely house in a very nice complex. 3 stories, and very high ceilings, so lots of stairs, 25 steps to the second floor, so Peter and I have both got sore muscles in our legs, will have to practice on the stairs at home before we go back. My wrist has been really good, not sure if it's the heat, lack of tennis, less computer or all three. Now I will never know as I picked my bag up funny and twisted my wrist just before getting on the plane in Singapore (flying home).
Several of their doors are sliding doors that go all the way up to the ceiling, very thick and very solid. First floor is open plan, dining and lounge, the lounge a couple of steps down, and a small garden outside.
Nice big kitchen. Second floor has 3 bedrooms all with their own bathroom. 2 of the bedrooms also have a balcony.
Third floor has a small office area and a large terrace with a great view over the water and hills.
We were pretty tired so went to bed soon after dinner.
Tuesday 23.8
Had a quiet morning while Graeme too Charlotte for her tuition, the can't get her into the school until the new school year in January.
In the afternoon we went with Graeme in a taxi down to Sai Kung to do some grocery shopping. Charlotte and I went for a swim when we got back, temperatures in HK are lower than in Egypt, around 32, but humidity much higher so I find I sweat a lot more. The pool is lovely and quite deep, but the water was 38 degrees not really refreshing.
Wednesday 24.8
Peter and I took a taxi to Sai Kung around midday. We told the driver we wanted to go down to the Pier to walk around. 'Walk? This time of the day, you must be crazy' or words to that effect. We assured him that we were also going to get some lunch. That made him a little happier. He was very nice and the only taxi driver we came across, who actually spoke some English.
We walked along the waterfront and some of the streets.
Eventually we decided to have something to eat. Found a place with an English menu. Ordered a dish each, that was a mistake, both were more than big enough for 2. Just as well actually as mine wasn't very interesting, Crispy fried noodles with some pork. However Peters prawn fried rice was delicious. I was tempted to try the Vegetarian Chicken.
We did some supermarket shopping and then tried to get a taxi. Graeme had txt'ed me their address and like I had seen him do I showed it to the driver, but he didn't know where it was. Neither did any of the next 4 or 5. We were starting to think we might have to walk home, only about 3km, but it was very hot.
I decided to ask a smart looking Chinese lady if she knew were the address was. She did, and explained it to the next driver.
Turned out that my Blackberry didn't display the Chinese characters that was in the txt Graeme sent, only the English. I fixed that when we got home.
Thursday 25.8
Graeme is still waiting for his car.
Peter and I decided to venture into town by bus and MTR.
Graeme told us which bus to take. A bus arrived as we got close to the stop, so we ran for it, he waited for us. Put our money in the box,
They don't give change.
Sat down and enjoyed the ride. After about 20 minutes we started to worry that we might have missed our stop Hang Hau, So Peter went up and asked the driver,( showing him the MTR map) he made some gesture which either meant, 'I have no idea' or 'it's way back there'
We next asked one of the other passengers, she said follow me, and soon after we got off at an MTR station, Choi Hung, not the right station but a MTR station. So we should be fine.
We figured out where we wanted to go but had some trouble getting the tickets. An official came along to help us, and suggested quite a different route to the one we would have chosen, and showed us how to get the concession tickets. As 'old' people we get a 50%discount.
I'm starting to like this place.
He told us to change at Mong Kok, all those names started coming back to us, felt wonderful.
Peter studied the underground map and said we could also change trains at 'Prince Edward' I suggested he had been quite firm on Mong Kok, and might have had a reason. He did, they have a very efficient MTR, where they suggest certain stations for transfer to an other train, it varies depending on which direction you are travelling in. Pick the correct interchange and you get off the train, walk across the platform and onto the next train. It was a reasonably long trip, and cost $3.00HK, about 50cents NZ.
We got off at Wan Chai and followed Graeme's instructions and walking towards the Immigration Tower, we ran into Graeme and Charlotte.
Off to find some lunch! Charlotte was sure they wouldn't have anything she liked, so was delighted to get a ham omelet with some buttered soup. The rest of us were pretty happy to. Peter had fried rice again. Graeme some pork and noddle soup. I had some beautiful duck and rice. We decided to have a look at the Peak and while we discussed how to get there it started to rain, so we took the easy way out and grabbed a taxi. At the tram we found once more that it was 1/2 price for children and over 65's. The young man was nice enough to ask how old we were.
We got seats at the front of the tram, the ride up was fun. We did find it cost extra to get up to the observation deck and as it was quite misty we decided to give it a miss and opted for a coffee with a view.
Managed to get to the front of the tram again but the seat didn't turn so it was a little difficult. We then walked to an MTR station and trained and bussed home.
Friday 26.8
Graeme had golf and Charlotte only had Basketball at 3pm. Tess was taking her and I said I would go along. Graeme suggested a different route to the school from the one that Tess had tried, turned out to be the bus and stop Peter and I had done the previous day, so that should be easy.
Left early for bus, Peter thought it was very funny having somebody fussing me and wanting to leave far too early.
Graeme said that bus comes every 2 minutes. True but there are many different lines. They only seat 16, and if there isn't enough empty seats, they won't stop. We had to wait about 1/2 hour for one to stop. Many went past.
Tess was a little worried about the time as she hadn't done that route before. Peter and I caught that bus yesterday by mistake, so I knew where to get off, I thought. Got off a stop too soon. Not really a problem. We just continued walking along the road. It was hot but not too far. Great thing with busses and trains here, I only pay 1/2 price. Seniors and children get 50%off.
Funny, nobody wants the inside seat. They make you climb over them.
The MTR was easy, only 4 stops and the school was just around the corner from the station and in the end we were only 20 minutes early.
Charlotte had a good time there were about 15 children in the group. She is also going to gymnastics at the school. Has also made a friend who is also waiting to start at the school and has had a playdate with her.
Graeme had hoped to get his car so we could all go into town and meet Lisa after work. He had taken Lisa's car to work. When we got back the guard told us that Mr Graeme was back so we asked if he was driving a big or a small car, and was told he was in the small car.
There are 2 guard houses, the first down by the road the next a couple of hundred meters further up at the entrance to the complex. The guards are all very helpful and friendly.
We were going to the Night Market, when we need a taxi we phone the guard house and tell them were we are going and they order it for us and then phone back to let us know when it's coming. This time they also said, be careful of pick pockets, and if you have any problems, phone me.
On this trip I have been warned about pick pockets and bag snatchers at every place we have been. We haven't had any problems guess I'll have my bag snatched in Nelson.
We managed to meet up with Lisa in the Market. Most times Peter and I have been to Hong Kong we have talked of going to the Night Market but this is the first time we have managed it. It was fun and they really weren't hassling you to buy which was nice, actually a couple of times we had to go in search of the stall holders to buy what we wanted. I bought some white socks, something I have been looking for since I left home as I have been wearing my sneakers a lot. I also bought a new suitcase as mine was starting to fall apart. I was seriously considering a hard case, but in the end decided on an other soft one. It seems a lot stronger than the one I had and much lighter and great wheels. Turned out to be a little bigger too.
Charlotte got a headband and a nice little dress. We had to go thru the whole market as there was so much she really loved and really wanted, so she had to be sure she choose the right thing.
Off to find a place for dinner at one of the many outdoor places around the market. We had some very nice Chinese dishes.
We then hopped in a taxi down to the waterfront. It was really beautiful with the tall colourful buildings reflecting in the water and ferries and other boats going back and forth.
An excellent evening and the temperature was just wonderful.
Saturday 27.8
Lisa woke me at 7 and asked if I wanted to come for a walk. Usually I was up by then. We took her car, my first ride in it a beautiful Mercedes convertible. Expensive but only about 1/2 of what it would cost in Singapore.
We were heading for a park not far away where there is supposed to be some beautiful walks. Looked at the map and headed of on the first track which would take us back to were we started. A little hilly but 10 minutes and we were back where we started in the picnic area. Most interesting thing was the cows grazing among the picnic tables.
We found an other map and trail called the Nature Trail, which followed the river a few nice view but not many and it was on concrete a path, not what Lisa wants for her runs. Back home for breakfast on the terrace.
Later in the morning we went down to the pier at Sai Kung to see what boat trips were available.
Lots of traffic everybody wants to get out of town in the weekend.
Lots of people lining up on the pier for the ferries, but several ladies from the sampans approached us. So we decided to see what was available. Some of them seem to take passengers on regular runs, but also found that we could have a sampan to ourselves $600 HK for an hour and a half, to take us around the harbour and to a beach for a swim. The breeze was lovely and cooling, it was such a nice outing.
The beach was lovely and the water clear and warm. Perfect. Time for lunch, none of us felt like Chinese so decided on Pizza, initially we had decided we wanted to sit outside, but the call of the air conditioning was just too great. Lisa and I shared a Gorgonzola Pizza, Peter and Charlotte a Ham and Pineapple one, and Graeme who had been off his food all week managed a whole pizza all by himself.
We were all impressed when we hopped in a taxi and Lisa gave the instructions in Chinese, even more impressed when we actually got to the right place.
Home to watch the rugby which we unfortunately lost. Sweet and sour pork for dinner, Tess knows we love it. It was our last evening but we were all very tired and went to bed early.
So how do I feel about Hong Kong vs Singapore, I love Singapore, but ever since my first visit there I have called it 'Asia for beginners.' It’s clean, safe just about everybody speaks English, quite civilized . It is busy, but not in the chaotic way of Hong Kong. Hong Kong is a lot harder but also more exciting. Even the taxi drivers don’t speak or read English. Hong Kong has seasons and some lovely nature too. I’m sure I’m going to find many more surprises like finding cows walking along the roads. . I’m looking forward to getting to know Hong Kong better.
Comments
Hej
Tack för alla fantastiska bilder och den intressanta beskrivningen av vad ni upplevt. Hongkong verkar vara mycket intressant. Jag är imponerad över hur ni i alla fall kan ta er runt i staden. Den verkar inte vara lätt att hitta i.
Nu har ni många minnen att sortera då ni kommer hem.
Kram Gerda
I wonder if you are home and had a few days rest.
You bought back lots of memories of HK - we stayed in the night market area and found it an exciting place to spend an evening. We also found the people of HK very friendly and helpful and of course it makes it easy as most people speak English. Felt like we were with you in all your travels but saw it all from an armchair. Best wishes to you both and thanks for including us...Michael and Angela